Reversers can be operated in flight!

[MrPlaneDriver 41]

As I was setting the aircraft up for landing, I accidentally feft-clicked the left engine reverse lever and, to my surprise, it opened! If I held the mouse button, the engine would spool up with the reverse open. There were no failures active.

 

 

 

[NovemberUniform 157]

Wow, this would mean serious trouble irl. What happened next?

[flightwatch 68]

There are supposed to be locks that prevent accidental TR deployment when the aircraft is in flight mode (no weight on the wheels.)  Something isn't right with that.

[sddjd 117]

Wow, this would mean serious trouble irl. What happened next?

 

Curious as to how the sim responded as well; would likely be lift disruption, left roll / dive....

[Wizz84 4]

the same problem is also in the 737, I told pmdg about it but they told me that they can not change it, its part of their design

[EGFF 772 21]

I remember reading in the Boeing FCOM.V1 that using the reverse thrust is not authorized in flight.

 

Regards,

 

EDIT: Section L.10.7 at the bottom it states, "Intentional selection of reverse thrust in flight is prohibited"

[Talek 20]

this doesn't mean it's impossible

[EGFF 772 21]

I know it doesn't, I was wondering if Boeing made it impossible to operate the reverser's in flight why would they need to say in the FCOM that it is prohibited, but then I was thinking why would they make it possible and state in the FCOM it is prohibited?

Regards,

 

Jordan

[MrPlaneDriver 41]

Curious as to how the sim responded as well; would likely be lift disruption, left roll / dive....

 

I expected something similar, but the plane kept flying normally. Maybe losing speed at a slightly higher rate, but no roll, dive or anything unusal. Either nothing happened or the autopilot did an extraordinary job  :lol:

 

the same problem is also in the 737, I told pmdg about it but they told me that they can not change it, its part of their design

 

I've intentionally tried that a few times in the NGX, but the reverser sleeves remained locked.

[ccarter06 3]

Maybe left it as a possible action for government aircraft. They use reversers/beta while airborne for certain tactical arrivals/landings.

 

Whether Boeing did this or not is just speculation.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[tcas_climb 45]

I know it doesn't, I was wondering if Boeing made it impossible to operate the reverser's in flight why would they need to say in the FCOM that it is prohibited, but then I was thinking why would they make it possible and state in the FCOM it is prohibited?

 

Regards,

 

Jordan

If i remember correctly there are supposed to be locks that prevent the selection of reverse thrust in flight. The reason why Boeing goes further to state that is when certain failures occur, the locks will unlock and allow the selection of reverse thrust, the same failure i believe will cause the spoilers to deploy in flight if armed.

[ray hughes 165]

There has been an incident of reversers deploying in the air (Lauda 767 flight) resulting in a total loss of the aircraft and everyone on board. This had been noted as a warning light but the crew thought it was a a faulty light and could not fault it on the ground..

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauda_Air_Flight_004

[january 19]

Many years ago- I think about 1962 or 3, I was aboard an Air Canada DC8 starting a nightime, low vis. approach into Toronto YYZ, when there was a terrific roaring engine noise and what seemed like vibration heavy enough to tear the airplane apart.

We passengers, sporting very alarmed faces, looked about at each other seeking reassurance.

 The date was only a short time after another AC DC8 had unexplainably plunged into a field at St Therese, Quebec with the loss of all souls aboard. 

 

After what seemed an eternity- certainly long enough for all to have offered a few silent prayers- the noise and shaking diminished, including from both airplane and passengers!!

 And then to our relief, a voice over the PA said "This is the captain- we apologize for the unusual noise and vibration of the last couple of minutes, but due to a late clearance, we've been using reverse engine thrust to descend more rapidly than usual." 

So, at least in those days reverse thrust was used while airborne!

january

 

[sddjd 117]

I expected something similar, but the plane kept flying normally. Maybe losing speed at a slightly higher rate, but no roll, dive or anything unusal. Either nothing happened or the autopilot did an extraordinary job  :lol:

 

 

I've intentionally tried that a few times in the NGX, but the reverser sleeves remained locked.

 

I wonder if being at idle thrust was the main reason for the minimal impact.... As the thread has indicated, several aircraft are designed to allow the buckets to transit for purposes of slowing the aircraft (from the dc-8 to the concorde, as well as some mils).  Lauda 004 had this occur at climb power; can't imagine the sudden airframe effect of a slam deployment there...

there was a terrific roaring engine noise and what seemed like vibration heavy enough to tear the airplane apart.

 

Takes me back to DFW reversing out of the gates in AA's md80's using reverse thrust  B)

[3-2-1-Now 126]

The problem with reverser unlocked in flight is the asymmetry. The only action is to IMMEDIATELY shutdown the engine.

 

Best regards,

Robin.